episode_0039

It’s quiet.

Walls made of white marble and curtains woven from pure white cloth.

Spotless tables and furniture made of white wood… … .

In a living room filled with light on all sides, the only thing with color was my hair and Elle’s.

“… … Even though one of them is an elf.”

“Well, Demon King. I think I know what you’re thinking. If an elf stays in a room like this, he’ll go crazy, right?”

I looked at Elle for a moment, who was answering fatly.

Her hair, like threads spun from gold, looks even more dazzling today.

It may feel that way because the hood prepared by the Holy Land is so white… … .

“So, what do we do now?”

“What do you mean?”

“What the heck! You say this is the Holy Land? It’s like I was captured in enemy territory!”

“… … .”

As she said.

Now we had entered the holy kingdom.

As soon as the warrior followed Ren out of the Arden Forest, he found himself in a holy land.

Because the holy kingdom of this world, Lūmen, was a small city-state.

Because of that, Elle and I’s plan to run away when we had the chance ended up going up in smoke.

“That’s why I told you to run away while I fight. What’s the big deal with being a warrior?”

“… … You said you couldn’t win.”

“The Demon King must have found enough time to escape.”

“And then he died.”

Barely able to stop El from confronting the warrior.

As I was following behind Len, I found myself arriving at the temple.

If it’s discovered here that I’m the Demon King, it would be worse than dying.

But the good news is.

“Let’s think positively.”

“What?”

“We came here to be ‘purified’, right?”

The fact that none of the people of the Holy Land knew that I possessed the property of immortality.

“If you’re not too unlucky, you won’t get caught. We just have to go through the purification ritual and go back.”

So I told Elle my hopeful prediction.

Naturally, Elle’s reaction wasn’t very good.

“So you’re saying we should participate in an event where we might get into trouble? That’s too easygoing.”

“No. That… , I guess I know for some reason… … .”

“Huh?”

“Ah, anyway. Let’s wait for now. Be careful not to let your magically covered ears get caught.”

Elle looks at me with a puzzled expression.

I tried to muddle through and change the subject.

I’m 99% sure that the purification of priests is a dirty ritual, but there’s a chance that it could be a normal consecration or ritual.

“Well, if that’s the case, Demon King. Okay, I understand.”

Elle made a displeased expression, but eventually reluctantly agreed.

He just lifts his left hand and touches his rounded ear like a human’s.

It was a disguise spell cast to avoid revealing one’s identity.

Elle, who was checking her disguise, muttered as if a memory suddenly occurred to her.

“By the way, it’s the third generation… … . Since the Demon King is here, the hero was also chosen.”

“Huh?”

“The warrior I was talking about earlier, Ren or something.”

Now that I think about it, I clearly said that he was a warrior.

As it turns out, the Demon King received help from the Hero.

I asked Elle, feeling slightly bewildered.

“Do you know about the warrior named Ren?”

Immediately after meeting the warrior, I was in a state of confusion and couldn’t get much information.

There was also a risk that my identity would be revealed if I asked common sense questions.

Even though it was late, I wanted to learn a little bit about the warrior.

“Well, I don’t know either. Shouldn’t the Demon King know better?”

“Me?”

“Yeah. The Goddess always sends them as a set. The Demon King and the Hero. ”

But isn’t Elle saying that in a tone that seems like she’s admonishing obvious common sense?

what?

Is this the first time I’ve heard that?

When I first met the goddess, I was alone.

Because I came into this world without even hearing any prior knowledge or precautions.

“Set…, right?”

“Yeah. In legends and fairy tales, there’s always a demon king who causes chaos in the world and a hero who stops him, right?”

“That’s right. It’s a cliché from an old story.”

“That all really happened.”

“Yes?”

“Since elves have no lifespan, from a human’s perspective, even the distant past is just an experience from yesterday.”

“… … You’re so old.”

“Oh, that’s right, that’s what they say.”

I read a book written by such an elf!

Elle insisted, puffing out her cheeks.

“Anyway, the goddess who created this world always gives opportunities to creatures. She gives demons a demon lord, and at the same time gives humans a warrior.”

“So that’s what you mean by set.”

“That’s right. The Demon King’s descent means the birth of a hero. Well, I didn’t expect to meet him in a place like this.”

Yeah, that happened to me too.

It was even more unexpected that a warrior I didn’t even know existed would save me.

“Wait a minute! Doesn’t that mean… … that humans also know about the Demon King’s appearance?”

And then suddenly.

I raised my head at the thought that occurred to me at that moment.

When the Demon King descends, a hero is born.

To put it another way, if a warrior appears, it means that there is a Demon King somewhere on the continent.

“Of course.”

Uh, um… … .

Suddenly, I had a thought, “Is it okay for this to be like this?”

At least the people in this holy country will know about the existence of the Demon King and be searching for him.

I felt a cool chill on the back of my neck.

It’s not like it’s immortal so it won’t be cut off.

“Your Majesty, what’s wrong?”

“No, no. But I guess a frontal attack is the answer.”

“Huh?”

Isn’t there an old saying that goes, “a symbol is a land tax?”

El and I have already entered the center of the Holy Land.

Now, running away without undergoing the ritual of ‘purification’ was rather a conspicuous act.

It would be better to just pretend to be a woman who was raped by a monster and then rescued.

It would be difficult to think of the woman who was being eaten by Trent as the Demon King.

Sweet sweet… … .

My knees, which were sitting calmly, were shaking on their own.

“Your Majesty?”

“… … ! That title is also forbidden!”

“What?”

“You said this is enemy territory. I shouldn’t reveal my identity!”

“Oh, right. That’s true. Then what should I call it?”

“Just call me by my name!”

“Okay, Lana.”

“… … .”

“… … .”

Sweet sweet sweet sweet!

“… … Hey, can you shake it off a little?”

“What, you’re shaking? Who’s scared?!”

“Lana.”

“I, I’m not nervous at all! This is just a sign of excitement, right?”

“What’s exciting?”

“Yes, spying. It’s like exploring the country called Seongguk in advance… … .”

“Yeah, yeah. Let’s say that’s true.”

Elle shook her head and sipped her tea.

When you feel that appropriate amount of leisure and tension.

dripping.

“Huhh …

Someone knocked on the living room door.

Bam!

“Excuse me. I came to pick you up because the preparations for the ‘purification’ ritual are complete.”

A maid opens the door and comes in.

As expected, he was wearing a pure white outfit that was completely white and spotless.

If you live in a place like this for too long, you’ll really go crazy.

“Follow me.”

“Let’s go, Lana.”

So we left the reception room and headed to the ceremony room.

As I left the pure white room, I walked down a hallway still surrounded by light.

It’s equally detrimental to your mental health whether here or there.

Eldo spoke to the maid who was walking ahead, perhaps because she had the same sentiment.

“By the way, that’s unexpected.”

“What are you talking about… … ?”

“Just. I was curious where the warrior who guided me here went.”

” Mr. Ren is busy. He went west.”

“Huh? What’s going on?”

By the way, was it Ren?

What is the warrior of the Holy Nation so busy with?

He took us to the temple and then disappeared in a flash.

Well, as a warrior, there are many things to do.

Thanks to that, I can walk a little more comfortably, so that’s a good thing.

“The Cronia Mountains. And beyond that, the Celt County of the Arahan Kingdom. Traces of the Demon King were said to have been found in two places.”

But that comfortable feeling soon became uncomfortable again.

The Celt County and the Chronia Mountains are places I have passed through since coming to this world.

Those holy people… … .

The news comes faster than you thought?

Elle’s previously relaxed expression also hardened slightly.

“… … What trace?”

“Well? I don’t know the details. I just heard that some strange monsters were discovered there.”

“Ugh… … .”

“There is a high probability that the demons of the Arhat Kingdom are being led by the Demon King.”

Huh?

Is it still safe?

I slightly sensed the discomfort in the maid’s words.

“Well, then that’s right.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“The Demon King will be in the kingdom?”

“That’s right. The people above said the same thing.”

Wow!

I barely managed to suppress the smile that almost formed in the moment.

“I see. That’s fortunate. Yes, the Demon King is in the west!”

Those holy bastards.

It’s more flimsy than I thought?

“What an easy person to understand… … .”

Elle’s muttering is somewhat ignored.

I followed the maid with steps that had become lighter before I knew it.

◈ ◈ ◈

The room of consciousness we arrived at like that.

Just like before, in a space that was completely white but dimly lit, Elle and I stood side by side in front of the statue of the goddess.

Contrary to my expectations that it would be a wild and sinister ceremony, the atmosphere was quite solemn.

Press down deeply on the larynx provided by the temple.

Listening to the prayers of the priests surrounding me.

You are being baptized in clear and pure holy water.

“Sigh… … ♡.”

“It’s colder than I thought.”

It was a little erotic to see the wet hem of her clothes clinging to her skin.

Other than that, it wasn’t causing any sexual excitement.

what?

Did I have a prejudice against this world?

I clearly thought it was a ‘Hehehe, I’ll cleanse you with my magic wand’ situation.

Choaack!

“Haaa… … .”

The holy water pouring down over my head was incredibly reverent.

hmm.

Just because it’s a religion that follows a perverted surplus goddess, its doctrines aren’t all that perverted.

Maybe I need to do some reflecting.

Isn’t this a suitable place to go to confession?

‘I’m sorry, Goddess. I thought all your followers were either perverts like you or sex addicts like the elf next door.’

“Now, with the Archbishop’s blessing, we will conclude the ritual of ‘purification.’”

While recalling the words of atonement.

The event was already drawing to a close.

Since you said it was the last one, I guess I just have to hold on for a few more minutes and I’ll be released.

If I get released from here, I’ll have to run east first.

Because humans know that the Demon King is in the west, in the Arhat Kingdom.

I still don’t have a single penny, but I’m just thankful that I wasn’t caught and killed…

When you’re thinking about the future like that.

“Ahem. Are these the women?”

With a staggering movement.

A fat priest called the Archbishop approached us.